Abstract
This article examines the do-it-yourself (DIY) punk movement from 1974-1984 through the context of ’zines. During this decade, punk countered mainstream culture by utilizing the DIY method of production. In practice, this meant that punk bands avoided record labels, concerts were cheaply self-organized, and most forms of art lacked a profit-incentive. In an era of growing censorship and corporate overreach, evading conventional publication allowed for a widespread rebellion of the status quo with little barrier to entry. ’Zines are amateur, self-made magazines that served as the backbone of the DIY ethos within the punk movement. I argue that ’zines had a unique ability to build community as they allowed anyone, regardless of musical ability or connections, to contribute to the dialogue of both local and international punk scene. Furthermore, I argue that the DIY punk movement can be best understood by analyzing ’zines as a primary source and their exclusion from academia and pop-culture has led to an unrealistic portrayal of punk counterculture.
Recommended Citation
Morgentaler, Jacklyn
(2023)
"Do-or-DIY: Punk Rock 'Zines and the Countercultural Rebellion of 1974-1984,"
Locus: The Seton Hall Journal of Undergraduate Research: Vol. 6, Article 9.
Available at:
https://scholarship.shu.edu/locus/vol6/iss1/9